Phoebe’s POV
"You are hurt again," Perry’s voice carried a razor-sharp edge as he pressed his forehead against mine. "Do you want his head? Or should I skin him alive?"
My eyes flew open in shock, and I shook my head frantically. I wanted neither. Besides, the alpha who’d hurt was already dead.
I lifted my head to et the king’s gaze and saw the cold determination burning in those electric blue eyes. His madness had returned. This wasn’t just about avenging the insult to —Perry actually enjoyed it.
He took pleasure in hurting people, and I couldn’t let that happen, especially not for my sake. I refused to have soone’s blood on my hands.
Shaking my head again, I tightened my grip on Perry’s hand. I couldn’t let go, terrified that if I loosened my hold, he’d storm back to the dining hall and finish what he’d started.
’Please,’ I mouthed.
’Don’t kill anyone.’
Perry could read my lips, but he wanted to hear my voice. I knew my tongue had healed. I could speak, but I didn’t want to.
’Please, don’t kill anymore.’
"I won’t, but I want to hear your voice." His request wasn’t unreasonable. It had been so long, and he missed the sound of my voice. "Talk to , Phoebe. Say my na."
This ti, I was the one furrowing my brows.
I wouldn’t say I’d forgotten how to speak, but after staying silent for so long, I’d grown comfortable with this quiet existence.
"I’m going to kill him if you don’t speak," Perry said casually. It didn’t sound like a threat, but I knew he’d follow through.
After all, killing gave him satisfaction—sothing I couldn’t understand.
But I’d noticed sothing: Perry had changed. He wasn’t as cold as before. In the past, he would’ve forced to give him what he wanted without compromise.
That was a year ago. So much had happened since then. We’d been broken, then healed, then suffered through agony and more.
Here we were now.
If this were the past, Perry wouldn’t have negotiated with . He would’ve killed that last alpha without a second thought. We wouldn’t be having this conversation.
But Perry had grown patient with , though it didn’t erase his darker side. He was still the bloodthirsty king.
"Get so rest, Phoebe." Perry caressed my cheek before standing up. He’d waited for to speak, but he couldn’t push further.
He’d learned his lesson. He’d made progress with and didn’t want to make fear him again.
But I suddenly pulled him back and pressed my lips against his. I couldn’t speak, but I thought this would be enough to replace his request. The kiss didn’t last long, but it left Perry stunned. He stared at for a long mont before leaning over to kiss back.
He placed his hand carefully on the back of my head, mindful not to aggravate the wound on my neck. He coaxed my lips apart so he could taste my tongue.
Perry moved gently, tenderly, because he didn’t want to hurt . When he sucked on my tongue, I could sense him noticing the roughness of my wound.
The injury had healed, but it left scars there.
I flinched when his hand touched the back of my neck instinctively as he tried to deepen the kiss.
Perry sensed my reaction and imdiately pulled away.
He hadn’t ant to hurt , but I was still gripping his arm.
"What is it? Do you want to continue the kiss?"
Perry was in an excellent mood as he teased .
Hearing that, I imdiately released him as if I’d touched burning coal, which made his smile widen.
He stood up, but I grabbed him again.
Perry knew what I wanted. My expression must’ve looked conflicted.
I wasn’t holding him back because I wanted to continue the kiss—I was afraid that if I let go, he’d hunt down the last alpha who’d offended and kill him.
"I won’t kill him." Perry leaned over and kissed my forehead. "I’ll have a talk with him, but that’s all. I won’t harm him."
I was still clutching his sleeve, not believing him.
"I promise," Perry said earnestly. He caressed my cheek. "If you don’t let go, then I’ll assu you want to continue the kiss."
I imdiately released him for the second ti, as if my hands were burned.
"You’re so adorable." Perry stroked my head.
"Get so rest. I didn’t an to ruin our lunch, but those idiots simply couldn’t give a break."
The way Perry said it made it sound like a normal occurrence.
After that, he left the room, while I lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, wondering what I should do now.
Should I still hold a grudge against him? At this point, I didn’t know what grudge I still carried.
My anger had vanished. Still, it couldn’t fill the void in my heart. I touched my flat belly again.
Why did I feel so sad and regretful whenever I thought of the baby I didn’t even know I’d had?
I shouldn’t feel this depressed whenever I thought about it.
But I knew the answer. I wanted soone who belonged to , soone who would love unconditionally, soone I would love back.
The opportunity to have that had slipped through my fingers—that’s what I was grieving for.
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